NEW YORK, April 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Data released today by S&P Dow Jones Indices for the S&P Healthcare Economic Composite Index indicates that the average per capita cost of healthcare services covered by commercial insurance and Medicare programs increased by 3.10% over the 12-months ending February 2013, slower than the +3.82% annual growth rate recorded in January.

All nine of S&P Healthcare Economic Indices showed slower annual growth rates for February 2013 compared to January 2013. As measured by the S&P Healthcare Economic Commercial Index, healthcare costs covered by commercial insurance plans rose by 4.62% in February, down from +5.41% reported for January. Annual growth rates in Medicare claim costs increased by 0.78%, according to the S&P Healthcare Economic Medicare Index, down from +1.40% recorded last month.

The Professional Services Index annual growth rate was +4.19% in February 2013, down from the +5.00% January print. The Professional Services Commercial Index decelerated to +6.86% in February, down from +7.61% reported in January. The Professional Services Medicare annual growth rate set a new low of -0.87% in February, down from +0.02% posted in January.

The Hospital Index's growth rate was +1.92% in February, down from +2.55% recorded in January. The Hospital Medicare Index posted a +1.73% annual rate in February, down from +2.17% recorded last month. The Hospital Commercial annual growth rate hit its historic low of +2.02% in February; it posted +2.81% in January.

"In February 2013 all the nine headline healthcare indices grew more slowly than in January," says David M. Blitzer, Chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices.  "Moreover, the difference between the Composite Index at 3.10% and the general rate of inflation measured by the CPI was less than two percentage points. Medicare cost increases were slower than the general rate of inflation.

"Five of the nine healthcare indices hit new lows in February compared to any time since January 2005. They were the Composite Index, the Medicare Index, the Professional Services Medicare Index, the Hospital Index and the Hospital Commercial Index.

"The Professional Services Index went down by 81 basis points posting +4.19% in February. The Hospital index decreased by 63 basis points; it was +1.73% this month.

"The Professional Services Medicare Index posted -0.87%, 89 basis points down from the last month. It has the lowest annual growth rate among our healthcare indices. The Professional Services Commercial Index was +6.86% this month, 75 basis points down from its January rate.  It remained the highest index among healthcare indices we cover."

The S&P Healthcare Economic Indices estimate the per capita change in revenues accrued each month by hospital and professional services facilities for services provided to patients covered under traditional Medicare and commercial health insurance programs in the U.S. The annual growth rates are determined by calculating a percent change of the 12-month moving averages of the monthly index levels versus the same month of the prior year.

The S&P Healthcare Economic Composite Index is a weighted average of the S&P Healthcare Economic Commercial Index and the S&P Healthcare Economic Medicare Index.  Alternatively, it is a weighted average of the S&P Healthcare Economic Hospital Index and the S&P Healthcare Economic Professional Services Index, as each of these indices has the analogous Commercial and Medicare component.

The table below summarizes the year-over-year change in the S&P Healthcare Economic Indices for the 12-month period ending February 2013. With each monthly release, the index levels, including the 12-month moving averages, are recalculated for the full history of the indices, whenever there are revisions to underlying data used in the models. The entire revised history, as well as full results for the underlying S&P Healthcare Economic Indices, is available from S&P Dow Jones Indices as a subscription service.

As observed in the past, medical costs funded by commercial insurance plans significantly exceed those funded by Medicare.

The S&P Healthcare Economic Indices were developed in consultation with Health Index Advisors, a joint venture between Aon Hewitt and Milliman, Inc., and were derived from the former Milliman, Inc. Health Cost Index™ which was first published in 1987. The complete methodology, fact sheet and supporting research for the S&P Healthcare Economic Indices are available at http://www.spindices.com/index-family/specialty/healthcare-cost

About S&P Dow Jones Indices
S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies is the world's largest, global resource for index-based concepts, data and research. Home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500^® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average(SM), S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC has over 115 years of experience constructing innovative and transparent solutions that fulfill the needs of institutional and retail investors. More assets are invested in products based upon our indices than any other provider in the world. With over 830,000 indices covering a wide range of assets classes across the globe, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC defines the way investors measure and trade the markets. To learn more about our company, please visit www.spdji.com.

It is not possible to invest directly in an index. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, and their respective affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, directors, officers, shareholders, employees and agents (collectively "S&P Dow Jones Indices") does not sponsor, endorse, sell, or promote any investment fund or other vehicle that is offered by third parties and that seeks to provide an investment return based on the returns of any S&P Dow Jones Indices index. This document does not constitute an offer of services in jurisdictions where S&P Dow Jones Indices or its affiliates do not have the necessary licenses. S&P Dow Jones Indices receives compensation in connection with licensing its indices to third parties.

STANDARD & POOR'S and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC.  "Dow Jones" is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC ("Dow Jones").

For more information:

Dave Guarino
Communications
S&P Dow Jones Indices
dave_guarino@spdji.com
212-438-1471

David Blitzer
Managing Director and Chairman of the Index Committee
S&P Dow Jones Indices
david_blitzer@spdji.com
212-438-3907

SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices